So Long, Farewell...

I am going to be taking a blogging break for a while.  No real reason other than being a little uninspired and tired of late.  It might be a few weeks or months but I hope this will give me some time to get inspired about the blog and the direction I want to take it.  I'm considering some changes to the blog in the coming months so I hope this time will lead me in the right direction.  Thanks for all of your loyalty and readership over the years and you can always follow me on my many social media channels...

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Love to all and Happy Trails!

Crows Feet

This is for you Andrea...

A few weeks ago at my college reunion, one of my college besties Andrea and I were talking about how we are getting older and she mentioned she wanted to start using anti-aging products.  I mentioned that I started using eye cream when I was 18.  I really did and I have no idea why but I started using it and have used it ever since.  I am very brand loyal so I tend to stick with what I know but I have tried a few out.  The obvious question is... Are they working?  I think that's kind of hard to answer because I don't know what I would look like without them but I think they are.  These are a few of my favorite anti-aging creams that I am using right now. 

Starting Over by Origins.   This is the eye cream I have been using for about a year.  Like I said earlier I feel like eye creams are more of an investment in the future but I feel like this one has visible benefits immediately.  I use it all over my eye area including the crease between my eye brows  ( I think I sqwinch my face alot).  It's lightweight and it's a great moisturizer for the eye area. 

Firming and Lifting Cream by Algenist.  I have been blessed with two jars of this stuff and I love it as a moisturizer.  I don't really have any sagging skin yet so I'm not sure how it works on that but I do love the way by skin feels when I'm using it. 

Miracle Worker Dark Spot Corrector, Philosophy.  I use this to combat some blemish scars and general discoloration on my face.  I use it as a spot treatment although you can use it as a all over moisturizer.  I think it works well on the dark spots and evens out my skin tone.  There are some anti aging products in this line but I have not tried them.  

Again I'm no expert because I'm really not to the age where I am showing too many signs of aging but I hope that all of this will pay off one day. 

Does anyone else use any products like this?  Any recommendations?

Entertaining Favorites

I am partied out!  Last weekend we had Ella's second birthday at our house and this weekend we got the chance to celebrate my sweet cousin Cory Jo who is expecting a baby girl this summer.  It was a fun party and a great time to see people that I don't get to see.  I hosted both at our house and I wanted to share something I used at the shower that I absolutely love. 

This was the drink station. 

Look at these cute tags from Ballard Designs.  

They are wooden and designed by Southern Living.  In a small burlap bag you get six tags (Sweet, Unsweet, Lemonade, Water, and 2 Over 21).  So cute, right?  I tied them around these carafes I got at World Market.  

Just had to share. 

For those of you in the Southeast, how sick of this rain are you?!  I am so tired of rain.  I don't know that I ever seen this much rain in my life.  Ever.  Just had to vent.

May Shopping List

Happy May!

These are a few of my favorite things for the lovely month of May...

Washi Tape Bandages from Pink Olive

Pretoria Tank from Tea Collection.  Ella has this and I love it!

Bookplate Stamp from Hard Ink Calligraphy on Etsy

Seersucker Bow from E. Olsen Designs on Etsy

Basket from Nantucket Bicycle Basket Company

Dot Tote from Anna Joyce on Etsy

We are going to be partying again this weekend with a shower for my sweet cousin Cory Jo.  Have a great weekend!

Minnie Mouse Birthday

Ella turned two this week and this past weekend we celebrated with family with a small birthday party at our house.  

Now I struggled with a theme.  I originally planned on an ice cream party and then toyed with a golf theme which I had to abandon since it rained every weekend in February and March and we did not get to sod the backyard as we had planned.  I had always said that I would never do a character themed party for Ella.  Ever.  I was firm in my convictions but Ella loves Minnie Mouse.  She loves her a lot so I gave in and decided to do a Minnie Mouse themed party.   I went to great lengths to avoid mass market products and I think it turned out cute.  

This was Ella's outfit.  I ordered the dress on Etsy.  She wore it with black capri leggings and pink sparkly mary janes from Morgan and Milo (find them here).  

This was a her cake made by a local baker.  I just loved it.  I found the inspiration on Pinterest and she was able to match it exactly.  

The table.  

I sprinkled pink polka dot minnie head confetti on the table and used the cake as the centerpiece.  I provided some of my oldie but goodie recipes and tried out some new ones including a nutella fruit dip I found on Pinterest and a ricotta fruit dip.  

Keeping with the theme I served pink lemonade.  

One fail I had were these balloons.  I used clear balloons with black mickey confetti inside.  The confetti really didn't show up but it was still cute and they were tried with gray twine. 

The cupcakes.  I found this inspiration on Pinterest as well.  I made strawberry cupcakes and my own strawberry cream cheese icing.  I piped the icing on and used mini oreos to make the ears.  I finished them with pearl sprinkles I got at Target.

Now this is a tip that everyone needs to know about. 

I scooped the ice cream into this small candy cups I bought on etsy.  We did this about an hour before the party and when it was time for cake and ice cream we pulled the cups out of the freezer and served them.  No one had to struggle to scoop ice cream and the kids loved the little cups.  

I did a kids table using my grandfather's table and chair set he made for me.  I put PB&Js on the table along with a trail mix in pink baking cups.  These were a hit as well.  

The favors were just candy but I dressed the packaging up a bit with pink bags from etsy, white doilies and pink ribbon.  

I really wanted to keep the black to a minimum in the party so I used gray and pink for the most part.  Ella had an absolute blast.  Now onto planning next year's party.  Does anyone know what the next years party will be before this years has happened?  Only me?